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Jonglei, GPAA emphasize youth empowerment, development to deter violence

Author: Chany Ninrew | Published: January 25, 2025

Armed youth walk through a village in South Sudan’s Pibor region. Photo: AFP

Senior government officials from Jonglei State and Greater Pibor Administrative Area have emphasized youth empowerment, service delivery and enforcement of rule of law to mitigate recurrent inter-communal violence.

The officials spoke at the conclusion of a National Accountability Conference to strengthen rule of law as a pathway to sustainable peace among communities in the region.

Jonglei Deputy Governor Atong Kuol Manyang pointed out the devastating consequences of decades of cross-border attacks on innocent civilians including women and children.

She called on armed youth from Jonglei and GPAA to end the cycle of cattle raiding, child abductions and revenge attacks.

“This workshop is not for pointing out which side is wrong or right, but to face the reality that the activities of criminals from both sides are affecting us, that two wrongs don’t make right,” she stated.

“Revenge attacks must be stopped by the youth from the two sides. We must figure out that we must do what we can do differently this time to ensure implementation of these resolutions regardless of the challenges that lie ahead.”

Ms. Atong also emphasized the government’s role in enforcing rule of law and accountability for perpetrators of such conflicts.

The deputy governor further appealed to the national government and development partners to transform Gadiang border area into an urban center to discourage armed youth from using it as a crossing point for attacks.

“Let’s support the project of Gadiang without reservations as it is a strategic town that is easily accessible to different tribes from different towns. The youth need services such as roads, hospitals and empowerment to do businesses like fishing.”

Mr. Atong further called for resumption of construction on critical infrastructure services like major highways, deployment of mobile courts and forces on the border areas.

“We are also requesting the national government to ensure the resumption of Juba-Bor-Malakal highway and UNMISS to expedite the reconstruction of Bor-Pibor road to enhance movement of people and goods.”

“There is also a need to deploy forces along the road so that intervention to security concerns are rapid. Moreover, the rule of law can be strengthened by having mobile courts, joint security committee and illegalizing child abductions, cattle raiding so that criminals and their sympathizers are arrested and punished severely.”

For generations, Dinka, Lou Nuer and Murle communities across Jonglei and the GPAA have suffered from a cycle of intercommunal violence characterized by cattle-raiding, abduction of women and children, and sexual violence.

A study conducted by UNMISS’ Rule of Law and Security Institutions Section, found these practices are not cultural, but rather financially driven, in an environment of scarce resources, political conflict, intercommunal tensions and limited infrastructure and services.

While the challenges are complex and deeply ingrained in the social fabric, the leaders of both areas believe the political will exists to change.

On his part, Greater Pibor Chief Administrator, Peter Maze said community-granted impunity for criminals such as raiders and the presence of heavily armed state of the youth, are some the biggest challenges facing efforts to end inter-communal hostilities.

He said government officials sometimes find themselves unable to enforce laws and end up pleading with perpetrators to embrace peace.

“You find most our organized forces are even less powerful than the armed youth in the villages. If you go to places like Nanam, the arms that you can see in the hands of the youth are even more than the arms that you can see with the SSPDF,” he stated.

“That alone is a big challenge. If you go to those areas, all you can do is to kneel down and beg those youths to leave criminal activities.”

“You cannot attempt to enforce the law, arrest anyone or stop anyone from doing whatever they want to do. This is a big challenge to the rule of law.”

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